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Regulation-induced digitalization

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  • Zhang, Yunqi
  • Zhang, Xiaoyu

Abstract

This paper investigates how environmental regulation induces firm digitalization. We construct a digital index based on textual analyses and find that after the implementation of the program, pilot firms' digitalization increased relative to that of a group of carefully matched control firms, which is opposite to the findings in the extant literature on technology adoption. This increase cannot be fully explained by regional unobservables, firms' own innovation, firm selection, or other policies. The results are robust when we consider firm subsidiaries. The increase in digitalization is not due to regulatory arbitrage, and the industry-level concentration of digitalization changes little.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Yunqi & Zhang, Xiaoyu, 2024. "Regulation-induced digitalization," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:88:y:2024:i:c:s1043951x24001512
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102262
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental regulation; Technology adoption; Digitalization; Carbon emissions trading; Climate change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects

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